Welcome to my stop on the Above the Noise blog tour hosted by Book Plug Promotions!

Today I am excited to share my review as well as a giveaway with you all!

Above the Noise (In Too Deep #3)
   by: Michelle Kemper Brownlow

Publication Date: June 10, 2014
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by Book Plug Promos in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 355 pages
Order Links: Amazon | Kobo | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Becki Mowry’s journalism expertise keeps her busy as she spends her waking hours filling a calendar with gigs and public appearances for up and coming band, Alternate Tragedy. Radio interviews and TV spots result in sold out concerts and rowdy groupies hot for her lead singer boyfriend, Calon Ridge. But, as fame would have it, their time in the limelight also brings ulterior motives and false accusations. The rug is pulled out from under the band when they must make a decision they never dreamed they’d be faced with.

In this third book of the In Too Deep series, Becki and Calon struggle to find balance as they navigate their intense relationship while living amid the rock world’s nocturnal chaos. When life’s unexpected obstacles come out of nowhere, they focus on finding their own private solace Above the Noise.

 

 

 

 

Upon finishing On Solid Ground and seeing that the next book would be Becki and Calon's, I was ecstatic! Becki has been such a great side character in the first two novels- one of the best friends anyone could possibly have- and I fell for Calon the minute I met him (well after I realized he wasn't going after Gracie!).

 

Pacing: I felt the pacing was pretty good overall, but I did feel this book took a bit to pick up speed. Brownlow has written a very character driven novel and one that really focuses on the every day life  of these characters. I did feel Calon and Becki's relationship seemed a bit like insta-love, even with the flashbacks Brownlow has provided in the beginning of them becoming more. Even though I would have liked to see a bit more build up in their relationship, I do still feel it is genuine and after a while it really wasn't even an issue for me.

 

Storyline: Calon Ridge and his band Alternate Tragedy are ready to work at making a name for themselves. They have performed numerous gigs in their hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee and are now ready to take the next step. This novel follows the band as they make that transition from small town favorite to a band generating more and more buzz. Calon is not one of those attention seeking, cocky, arrogant musicians out to own the world. Instead, he's a really great guy who wants to make music, but still remain grounded and true to himself. He has known loss and pain in his life and really thinks things through before acting on them.

 

Becki Mowry is joining Alternate Tragedy on tour as their manager, as well as Calon's girlfriend. The two are starting their relationship off slow, as both of them know it has the potential to be so much more and don't want to rush things.

 

We get to see the two form and solidify their relationship while navigating the demands of being an up and coming band, girls that would do anything for a chance with a rockstar, as well as some unexpected surprises that they must face.

 

Characters: I liked both Becki and Calon. They are really great characters individually and together. Becki is more outspoken than her best friend Gracie and isn't afraid to say what's on her mind or how she feels. I like her tough as nails attitude and the fact that she isn't one of those jealous, insecure girlfriends. Becki has a lot thrown at her in this book, but she really is so much stronger and better because of those instances. Calon was wonderful to Becki and I loved how faithful and devoted he was to her. We don't get much in the way of Calon's past, but what we do get is very poignant and really showed us just how much he himself has had to overcome throughout his life.

 

We do get to see Gracie and Jake again for those who have read the previous two books in the series and they are great friends to both Calon and Becki. I love seeing friendships play such an important role in books! Calon's band members are also in the background and they provide some great comedic relief, as they are guys and don't always have filters. Danny is also a character that I ended up liking- she steps in to help Becki in her managerial duties, but you can tell she has a past of her own and I would love to find out more about her.

 

Final Thoughts: I did enjoy this novel, despite a few issues: I would have liked to see Calon and Becki's relationship develop a little slower and there were times I felt some of their language was a bit overkill. I like that they are vocal in their feelings for one another, but at times I just felt some of it was a bit much.

 

Brownlow has done an amazing job at tackling some really sensitive topics in this book. Becki and Calon handle their obstacles with grace and acceptance and I think that really made the book that much more special. She also addressed their fears, offering a more realistic feel to the story.

 

I would love to see another book in the series devoted to Danny, as I think she still has a story to tell...

 

 

 

 

Michelle Kemper Brownlow has been a storyteller her entire life. Her debut was on the high school cheerleading bus granting requests to re-tell her most embarrassing moments for a gaggle of hysterical squadmates.

Earning her Bachelor’s degree from Penn State University in Art Education and then marrying her very own “Jake,” she moved to Binghamton, NY where she taught high school. After having two children she quit work and finished her Master’s degree in Elementary Education at Binghamton University.

The Brownlow family of four moved to Michelle’s hometown of Morgantown, PA while the children were still quite young. A few years after moving, her family grew by one when they welcomed a baby into their home through the gift of adoption. The family still resides in PA, just miles from where that high school cheer bus was parked.

Michelle has been an artist for as long as she can remember, always choosing pencils and crayons over toys and puzzles. As a freelance illustrator, her simple characters play the starring roles in numerous emergent reader books published by Reading Reading Books.

 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

RELEASE DATE: JUNE 10, 2014

SYNOPSIS:

Becki Mowry’s journalism expertise keeps her busy as she spends her waking hours filling a calendar with gigs and public appearances for her boyfriend’s up and coming band, Alternate Tragedy. Radio interviews and TV spots result in sold out concerts and rowdy groupies hot for her guy; lead singer, Calon Ridge. But, as fame would have it, their time in the limelight also brings sabotage, rumors and false accusations. Becki and Calon try to stay steadfast on a personal journey that takes them to the depths of fear and uncertainty. And finally, the rug is pulled out from under the band when they must make a transition they never dreamed they’d be faced with.

In this third book of the In Too Deep series, Becki and Calon struggle to find balance as they navigate their new relationship while living amid the rock world’s nocturnal chaos. But when life’s unexpected obstacles come out of nowhere, they focus on finding their own private solace Above the Noise.

My debut New Adult romance, IN TOO DEEP, and its sequel, ON SOLID GROUND, were released in 2013 and have spent time on 3 of Amazon's Top 100 lists!

  

AUTHOR BIO:

Michelle Kemper Brownlow has been a storyteller her entire life. Her debut was on the high school cheerleading bus granting requests to re-tell her most embarrassing moments for a gaggle of hysterical squadmates.

Earning her Bachelor’s degree from Penn State University in Art Education and then marrying her very own “Jake,” she moved to Binghamton, NY where she taught high school. After having two children she quit work and finished her Master’s degree in Elementary Education at Binghamton University.

The Brownlow family of four moved to Michelle’s hometown of Morgantown, PA while the children were still quite young. A few years after moving, her family grew by one when they welcomed a baby into their home through the gift of adoption. The family still resides in PA, just miles from where that high school cheer bus was parked.

Michelle has been an artist for as long as she can remember, always choosing pencils and crayons over toys and puzzles. As a freelance illustrator, her simple characters play the starring roles in numerous emergent reader books published by Reading Reading Books.

Stay connected with Michelle:

Visit my Author blog: MICHELLE KEMPER BROWNLOW

Follow me on Twitter: @MK_Brownlow

"Like" me on facebook: Michelle Kemper Brownlow/ Author

ONE CLICK THIS SERIES !!!

COVER REVEAL HOSTED BY:

Happy re-release day to Michelle Kemper Brownlow and her debut novel In Too Deep! Michelle has decided to go 100% Indie!

 “I wanted full control over what I do with my books, how I market them and who I work with during the publishing process. I couldn’t be more thrilled to join the amazingly talented INDIE authors I’ve grown to know and love during what has been just the very beginning of a (hopefully) long writing career."- Michelle Kemper Brownlow

 

In Too Deep (In Too Deep #1)

New Adult Contemporary

 

Gracie has just finished her freshman year of college in Memphis when she takes a job at a local pizza joint in her home town of McKenzie, Tennessee. She is the epitome of innocence when she meets Noah. Noah is unabashedly handsome, intriguingly reckless and just cocky enough to be sexy. Gracie’s instincts tell her to stay far away from him and based on the stories she hears from her co-workers he leaves broken hearts in his wake. But still, she can’t explain her fascination with him.

Noah puts aside his bad boy ways when what he thought was a summer crush has him unexpectedly falling in love. But soon after Gracie transfers to UT Knoxville to be with Noah, their unexpected love becomes riddled with anger, deceit and humiliation.

Jake, Noah’s former roommate and Gracie’s best friend, can no longer be a bystander. Gracie’s world falls out from beneath her and when she breaks she turns to Jake for strength. As Jake talks her through a decision she’s not yet strong enough to make, together they uncover a truth so ugly neither of them is prepared for its fallout. Will Jake pull her to the surface or is Gracie Jordan finally In Too Deep?

 

 

 

I don't even know where to start. This book was an emotional rollercoaster. For real. I say that about quite a few books- but this one. For the love of all that's holy... I have never wanted to scream at a main character as much as I did Gracie. If I weren't reading on my Nook, I might have thrown the book across the room in frustration. I say all this, and let me tell you. That's a GOOD thing. The fact that Michelle can ignite these feelings in me, means it was a good book. Yes, I was frustrated more than I was content. My heart ached more than it felt joy. And I wanted to beat people more than I did hug on them.

I will be honest. I saw UT Knoxville in the synopsis and got a little too excited. The fact that this primarily takes place at my alma mater made me quite happy because I could visualize the surroundings a bit better. Especially when Gracie and Jake are hanging out in Circle Park.

Like I said- emotional rollercoaster. The opening scene really sets the stage for how this is going to go. You knew right away that this would not be sunshine and kittens. This would be the story of a girl who is struggling to stay above water and not let herself be pulled down to depths she couldn't come back from.

I really liked that this book was incredibly realistic. I've known girls like Gracie, and as a friend, I have hated to stand by and watch it go down. However, one thing I have realized is that no matter what you say, or what advice you have to offer- it's going to fall on deaf ears. When you're in that situation, its so easy for other people to tell you what to do and what a big mistake you're making. But ultimately you are the only one who can change your situation and you'll learn from those mistakes you've made. I've also had a bit of Gracie in me, also. I believed that if I held on long enough, I could change a person. That he would want to change because of how much he claimed to love me. It ain't happening, chicas. Time and time again we see girls try to make a relationship work, claiming that he can change because he says he's going to. When are we going to realize that some guys will say anything to get what they want?

Noah is that guy. To be honest, there were several times I wondered if he was bi-polar or had multiple personality disorder. He is so up and down. One minute he's begging for Gracie's forgiveness for being a douche, and the next he's hurtful, cold, and indifferent to her. However, I understand Gracie's reluctance to cut all ties with Noah. She broke up with a great boyfriend to be with him. I consider him her first true love, and she gave him a lot of firsts. She had so many sweet, loving memories of him that it was very difficult for her to give up on who he used to be, especially when he would still show glimpses of that person.

Thank the good Lord above for Jake, Sam, and Stacy. Stacy is Gracie's roommate, and Jake and Sam are Noah's friends who live upstairs. They were such a huge support system for Gracie. They were the friends who could see how bad Noah was for her, yet they knew nothing they could say or do was going to get through to her. Yet, they never once abandoned her to deal alone. Jake did show her some tough love at times, but Gracie needed it.

Oh, Jake. I would not have survived this book with him. He is the light at the end of the tunnel, the calm in the eye of the storm, and the sun on a cloudy day. I loved his and Gracie's friendship. He was so genuine and constantly kept building her up after Noah had hammered her down into nothingness. He was always telling her how beautiful she was and that she deserved so much more. My heart is squeezing right now just thinking about him. I was seriously screaming at her to open her eyes and see the amazing guy right in front of her!

What is our obsession with the bad boys? Why do we always think we can fix them? Every book I read, if there's a love triangle- you can bet I'm rooting for the good guy.

Gracie's journey is a tough one in this book. She has to learn to place her faith in herself before she can someone else. However, as many times as she gets sucked back in, she really does want to break the cycle. But she is the only one who can do so and she is the one who has to fight for herself.

 

 

Amazon

 

And don't miss the sequel, On Solid Ground!

On Solid Ground (In Too Deep #2)

New Adult Contemporary 

Gracie survived an emotionally abusive relationship that wrecked her. Her ex, Noah, systematically chipped away at her self-esteem through intimidation, humiliation and infidelity which left Gracie unable to trust her own perception of his intentions. But after falling head over heels for Jake, her best friend and the man who stood by her through it all, she is ready to experience life in the way it was meant to be lived. However, Gracie may find it impossible to simultaneously heal from the trauma of abuse while navigating a relationship with Jake. Can she put her heart on hold in order to heal her soul? The sequel to the five-star debut novel, In Too Deep, chronicles Gracie's steps toward healing as she falls deeper in love, reaches out for help, stands on her own, steps out of her comfort zone, faces her biggest fears, and reconnects with a sensual, talented soul from her past all in hopes of finding herself on solid ground.

 

Amazon | B&N | My Review

 

To celebrate MK Brownlow is not only putting In Too Deep on sale for $.99, but she is also giving away some awesome swag!

 

 

One winner (US ONLY) will be chosen from each of the participating blogs to win one of the following swag items created by MK Brownlow:

 

 

• 2 sets of Gracie's earrings (ITD turquoise)

• 2 turquoise bracelets w charms

• 1 turq. beaded charm key chain

• 5 sets of signed postcards, bookmarks & simple charm keychain

• 4 framed, signed segments of books (2 ITD, 2 OSG)

• 1 framed, signed ITD cover

• 1 framed , signed OSG cover

• 2 signed books (winner's choice)

• 1 IN TOO DEEP pages wreath

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Michelle Kemper Brownlow likes her music loud and prefers live concerts but will happily settle for the eclectic playlists on her iPhone. This Penn State grad and former high school art teacher is easily distracted by colorful art supplies and Eddie Vedder’s voice. When she’s not in her studio writing, she can be found putting off housework for a good romance novel that has her heart pounding and tears flowing. She is married to her very own “Jake” and is a mom to three fantastic humans, a black lab and a Chinchilla named Wodney.

Twitter  Facebook  Blog  Goodreads

Welcome to my stop on the On Solid Ground blog tour hosted by Xpresso Tours!

To see the full tour schedule please click HERE.

On Solid Ground (In Too Deep #2)
   by: Michelle Kemper Brownlow

Publication Date: Dec. 3, 2013
Publisher: Createspace
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by Xpresso Tours and the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 434 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Gracie survived an emotionally abusive relationship that wrecked her. Her ex, Noah, systematically chipped away at her self-esteem through intimidation, humiliation and infidelity which left Gracie unable to trust her own perception of his intentions. But after falling head over heels for Jake, her best friend and the man who stood by her through it all, she is ready to experience life in the way it was meant to be lived.  However, Gracie may find it impossible to simultaneously heal from the trauma of abuse while navigating a relationship with Jake. Can she put her heart on hold in order to heal her soul? The sequel to the five-star debut novel, In Too Deep, chronicles Gracie’s steps toward healing as she falls deeper in love, reaches out for help, stands on her own, steps out of her comfort zone, faces her biggest fears, and reconnects with a sensual, talented soul from her past all in hopes of finding herself on solid ground.

 

My Review:

 

I read and reviewed MK's In Too Deep earlier in the year and it was such an emotionally, heartbreaking story. Our main character Gracie has been through so much, so when I saw MK was writing a sequel my heart skipped a few beats. She has been beaten down emotionally and physically by her ex-boyfriend Noah and I hated how he manipulated her. Her self-confidence and self-esteem have been shredded to pieces by this guy. While Gracie has finally broken the vicious cycle known as Noah Foster, she is still dealing with the aftermath he has left. I was so proud of her at the end of the first book and I love that she is learning to stand on her own two feet. The best part? She doesn't have to do it alone. As I said before, she has a great support system- and her biggest cheerleader of all happens to be Jake Rockwell, Noah's former friend.

 

All I can say is this: JAKE. <3 Damn, I have so much love for that boy. SO. MUCH. LOVE. In the first book Jake understood that Gracie needed to be the one to take charge and cut ties with Noah. As much as it killed him to give her tough love, she really needed it in the end. Their relationship with each other is absolutely beautiful and it shows Gracie that love can be pure and healthy. This is something she never had with Noah.

 

Jake and Gracie's relationship is really tested in On Solid Ground. Gracie is still haunted by nightmares of Noah and she hates that she haves these nightmares while she's safe in Jake's arms. She should be able to give her whole heart to him- not one that has been fractured by Noah. This really eats away at her and she begins to question whether or not she jumped into a relationship with Jake too fast after she finally let go of Noah. She wonders if she's getting better because she has the strength to or if it's because she has Jake to constantly lean on. As much as Gracie loves Jake, she knows that she has to focus on her healing and growing stronger. In order to do that, Gracie must make some decisions regarding their relationship that will test them both in ways they never thought possible.

 

Watching Gracie transform from a broken, shattered girl to a strong, vibrant, self-assured woman is absolutely my favorite part of this book. She has so many good people in her corner that are there to encourage and help her along the way, but ultimately she is the one who has to make peace with her past and we see her take steps to do that in a variety of ways. Music is such a huge outlet for her. She begins playing the guitar and writing again, two things that made her happy in the past. Gracie ends up connecting with Calon Ridge, lead singer of a local band called Alternate Tragedy. Calon and Gracie actually met at a party during her sophomore year and shared a moment during one of her break ups with Noah. They shared a connection then and it is evident they still do. Calon is an intense character and he intimidates her. I was ready to despise Calon because it's clear he has feelings for Gracie, but he actually ended up being another pillar of strength and encouragement for her. Both of them can relate to one another on a creative musical level and he is the one who can help her achieve her goals of playing and learning to perform in front of others. Calon harbors some pain of his own, having lost someone very special to him. I am really proud of the fact that although he has feelings for Gracie, he sees how much she loves Jake and respects that.

 

Naturally, seeing Gracie spend time with Calon is not easy for Jake. He is jealous of Calon- he doesn't feel he can compete with someone like him. Gracie is still fragile and vulnerable and he is afraid Calon could sweep her off her feet and take her away from him. Both Gracie and Jake have their jealous moments, but both of them must learn to trust and believe in the other's love.  

 

Becki is another bright spot in this story. She is a friend of Gracie's and watching them reinforce their friendship is beautiful. Becki is hyper, wild, but a good friend to her. She is the source of fun Gracie needs to help her come out of her shell and I liked watching them spend time together.

 

This is Gracie's story of healing and I think MK did a great job of telling it. Gracie really learns a lot about herself and her self-worth and self-confidence levels soar in this one. Jake's love for her is absolutely breathtaking and beautiful and some of the things they say to one another made me tear up. (I want my own Jake!) Gracie develops new friendships that ground her and keep her chin pointed up. But most importantly, she finally is able to confront her past and the people that made it the way it was and be able to look back on it with a sense of closure and move forward into the life she always deserved.

About the Author:

 

Michelle Kemper Brownlow has been a storyteller her entire life. Her debut was on the high school cheerleading bus granting requests to re-tell her most embarrassing moments for a gaggle of hysterical squadmates.

Earning her Bachelor’s degree from Penn State University in Art Education and then marrying her very own “Jake,” she moved to Binghamton, NY where she taught high school. After having two children she quit work and finished her Master’s degree in Elementary Education at Binghamton University.

The Brownlow family of four moved to Michelle’s hometown of Morgantown, PA while the children were still quite young. A few years after moving, her family grew by one when they welcomed a baby into their home through the gift of adoption. The family still resides in PA, just miles from where that high school cheer bus was parked.

Michelle has been an artist for as long as she can remember, always choosing pencils and crayons over toys and puzzles. As a freelance illustrator, her simple characters play the starring roles in numerous emergent reader books published by Reading Reading Books.

“Writing is my way of making sense of the world. When I give my characters life on the pages I write, it frees up space in my mind to welcome in new stories that are begging to be told,” says Brownlow.

Website  Goodreads  Facebook  Twitter

 

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

On Solid Ground

by: Michelle Kemper Brownlow

New Adult Contemporary

To be released: Dec. 3, 2013 

Gracie survived an emotionally abusive relationship that wrecked her. Her ex, Noah, systematically chipped away at her self-esteem through intimidation, humiliation and infidelity which left Gracie unable to trust her own perception of his intentions. But after falling head over heels for Jake, her best friend and the man who stood by her through it all, she is ready to experience life in the way it was meant to be lived.  However, Gracie may find it impossible to simultaneously heal from the trauma of abuse while navigating a relationship with Jake. Can she put her heart on hold in order to heal her soul?

The sequel to the five-star debut novel, In Too Deep, chronicles Gracie’s steps toward healing as she falls deeper in love, reaches out for help, stands on her own, steps out of her comfort zone, faces her biggest fears, and reconnects with a sensual, talented soul from her past all in hopes of finding herself on solid ground.

The prequel In Too Deep is on sale today for $1.99!

 

 

 About Michelle Kemper Brownlow:

 

Michelle Kemper Brownlow likes her music loud and prefers live concerts but will happily settle for the eclectic playlists on her iPhone. This Penn State grad and former high school art teacher is easily distracted by colorful art supplies and Eddie Vedder’s voice. When she’s not in her studio writing, she can be found putting off housework for a good romance novel that has her heart pounding and tears flowing. She is married to her very own “Jake” and is a mom to three fantastic humans, a black lab and a Chinchilla named Wodney.

Facebook  Twitter  Goodreads

Welcome to my stop on the In Too Deep tour hosted by Xpresso Tours!

You can find the full tour schedule here.

In Too Deep
   by: Michelle Kemper Brownlow

Publication Date: June 6, 2013
Publisher: Sapphire Star Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received from Xpresso tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 338 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Gracie has just finished her freshman year of college in Memphis when she takes a job at a local pizza joint in her home town of McKenzie, Tennessee. She is the epitome of innocence when she meets Noah. Noah is unabashedly handsome, intriguingly reckless and just cocky enough to be sexy. Gracie’s instincts tell her to stay far away from him and based on the stories she hears from her co-workers he leaves broken hearts in his wake. But still, she can’t explain her fascination with him.

Noah puts aside his bad boy ways when what he thought was a summer crush has him unexpectedly falling in love. But soon after Gracie transfers to UT Knoxville to be with Noah, their unexpected love becomes riddled with anger, deceit and humiliation.

Jake, Noah’s former roommate and Gracie’s best friend, can no longer be a bystander. Gracie’s world falls out from beneath her and when she breaks she turns to Jake for strength. As Jake talks her through a decision she’s not yet strong enough to make, together they uncover a truth so ugly neither of them is prepared for its fallout. Will Jake pull her to the surface or is Gracie Jordan finally In Too Deep?
 

 

My Review:

 

I don't even know where to start. This book was an emotional rollercoaster. For real. I say that about quite a few books- but this one. For the love of all that's holy... I have never wanted to scream at a main character as much as I did Gracie. If I weren't reading on my Nook, I might have thrown the book across the room in frustration. I say all this, and let me tell you. That's a GOOD thing. The fact that Michelle can ignite these feelings in me, means it was a good book. Yes, I was frustrated more than I was content. My heart ached more than it felt joy. And I wanted to beat people more than I did hug on them.

 

I will be honest. I saw UT Knoxville in the synopsis and got a little too excited. The fact that this primarily takes place at my alma mater made me quite happy because I could visualize the surroundings a bit better. Especially when Gracie and Jake are hanging out in Circle Park.

 

Like I said- emotional rollercoaster. The opening scene really sets the stage for how this is going to go. You knew right away that this would not be sunshine and kittens. This would be the story of a girl who is struggling to stay above water and not let herself be pulled down to depths she couldn't come back from.

 

I really liked that this book was incredibly realistic. I've known girls like Gracie, and as a friend, I have hated to stand by and watch it go down. However, one thing I have realized is that no matter what you say, or what advice you have to offer- it's going to fall on deaf ears. When you're in that situation, its so easy for other people to tell you what to do and what a big mistake you're making. But ultimately you are the only one who can change your situation and you'll learn from those mistakes you've made. I've also had a bit of Gracie in me, also. I believed that if I held on long enough, I could change a person. That he would want to change because of how much he claimed to love me. It ain't happening, chicas. Time and time again we see girls try to make a relationship work, claiming that he can change because he says he's going to. When are we going to realize that some guys will say anything to get what they want?

 

Noah is that guy. To be honest, there were several times I wondered if he was bi-polar or had multiple personality disorder. He is so up and down. One minute he's begging for Gracie's forgiveness for being a douche, and the next he's hurtful, cold, and indifferent to her. However, I understand Gracie's reluctance to cut all ties with Noah. She broke up with a great boyfriend to be with him. I consider him her first true love, and she gave him a lot of firsts. She had so many sweet, loving memories of him that it was very difficult for her to give up on who he used to be, especially when he would still show glimpses of that person.

 

Thank the good Lord above for Jake, Sam, and Stacy. Stacy is Gracie's roommate, and Jake and Sam are Noah's friends who live upstairs. They were such a huge support system for Gracie. They were the friends who could see how bad Noah was for her, yet they knew nothing they could say or do was going to get through to her. Yet, they never once abandoned her to deal alone. Jake did show her some tough love at times, but Gracie needed it.

 

Oh, Jake. I would not have survived this book with him. He is the light at the end of the tunnel, the calm in the eye of the storm, and the sun on a cloudy day. I loved his and Gracie's friendship. He was so genuine and constantly kept building her up after Noah had hammered her down into nothingness. He was always telling her how beautiful she was and that she deserved so much more. My heart is squeezing right now just thinking about him. I was seriously screaming at her to open her eyes and see the amazing guy right in front of her!

 

What is our obsession with the bad boys? Why do we always think we can fix them? Every book I read, if there's a love triangle- you can bet I'm rooting for the good guy.

 

Gracie's journey is a tough one in this book. She has to learn to place her faith in herself before she can someone else. However, as many times as she gets sucked back in, she really does want to break the cycle. But she is the only one who can do so and she is the one who has to fight for herself.

 

 

 

 

About Michelle:

Michelle Kemper Brownlow has been a storyteller her entire life. Her debut was on the high school cheerleading bus granting requests to re-tell her most embarrassing moments for a gaggle of hysterical squadmates.

Earning her Bachelor’s degree from Penn State University in Art Education and then marrying her very own “Jake,” she moved to Binghamton, NY where she taught high school. After having two children she quit work and finished her Master’s degree in Elementary Education at Binghamton University.

The Brownlow family of four moved to Michelle’s hometown of Morgantown, PA while the children were still quite young. A few years after moving, her family grew by one when they welcomed a baby into their home through the gift of adoption. The family still resides in PA, just miles from where that high school cheer bus was parked.

Michelle has been an artist for as long as she can remember, always choosing pencils and crayons over toys and puzzles. As a freelance illustrator, her simple characters play the starring roles in numerous emergent reader books published by Reading Reading Books.

“Writing is my way of making sense of the world. When I give my characters life on the pages I write, it frees up space in my mind to welcome in new stories that are begging to be told,” says Brownlow.

 

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